Airplane



F. J. BAUMAN.

AIRPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-4,1918- 1,307,720. Patented June 24,1919.

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Patented June 24, 1919.

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F. J. BAUMAN.

AiRPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED HIV-4.1918.

Patented June 24, 1919.

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Patented June 24, 1919;

"UNITED STATES PATENT ersion FRANK J. BAUMAN, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR F ONE TiEEIRD T6 DELBERT M. WHITE AND ONE-THIRD T0 HARRY IVE. LAU, BOTH OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AIRPLANE.

specification of Letters Patent. P t t June 24, 1919,

Application filed January 4, 1918. Serial No. 210,356.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. BAUMAma citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have inventeda new and useful Airplane, of which the following is aspecification. This invention relates to aerial navigation, and particularly to certain novel feai0 tures in the structural formation and arrangement of the parts constituting the frame or body of that class of machines known as aeroplanes or airplanes. y a

The invention has for its principal object to provide a generally improved structure of this character in whichthe area of the main planes may be increased toelfectively add to the sustaining power and carrying capacity of the machinewithout necessitating a proportionate increase inthegeneral dimensions beyond such asis adopted for machines in common use, andwhich willbe applicable to the structures of present types of machines for navigation of the air or upon the water without materially altering or interfering with the usual means for the propulsion and control of such machines; In attaining this object the invention contemplatesbriefly the formation and employ- 3 ment in connection with one or more of the main planes'of a centrally and rearwardly extending surface in the form of an elongated body plane of lesser width than said main plane but lying in the planetherewith and connecting said main plane with the tail group for steering and controlling the machine. The body or elongated portion of the lane is provided with a centrallydepending longitudinally extending concavo- 40 convex stilfening rib in the form of a trough to serve as a boat or carrying receptacle,and the unitary structure thus formedmay be employed singly in connection with suitable driving and monoplane, or two or moreof the structures may be disposed in spacedparallel re lation and secured by suitable frame Work in the formof a bi-plane. r j i a The invention also incl des such a formation of themain planes as will provide forwardly projecting angular extensions intermediate the center and extremitiesupon opposite sides thereof to increase the sustaining area of the plane and provide advanced to surfaces at such points as will tend to stabcontrolling means as in a cut away upon opposite sides of a centrally ilize the machine against axial movement in Further objects and advantages will appear from the following description in connec t10n with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the essential features of the invention is illustrated, and i which, i i

Figure 1 is a plan View of my invention as applied to airplanes of the bi-plane type. 5

Fig. 2 1s a front elevation of thestructure showninFigil. y

F 1g; 3 is a side elevation of the machine showing a portionof the body of the upper plane in section and indicating by dotted lines the application of the propelling and controlling means. a Fig. 4: is an enlarged transverse section takenon dashed line of Fig. 3.

Referring to the parts by the characters of reference on the drawings, 1 represents the upper main plane which is substantially T-shaped in plan and extends transversely and longitudinally of the body of the machine.

The transverse extensions 2 which so form the wings of the main plane are provided at their forward edges with forwardly projecting extensions 8, the edges4 of which convergerespectively toward points intermediate the transversecenter of themain plane 1 and the extremitiescfthe wings 2,

thusthe body areas of the wings are increased by tongue like projections, the an gular edges of which offer comparatively slight resistance to penetration of the air while the added surface afforded assists in sustaining and stabilizing the plane in flight. a 4 The longitudinal or body portion 5 of the plane isof lesser width than the main plane fl OIll WlilOll it extends centrally and rearwardlyin the plane thereof "andis gradually decreased 1n w dth to a point near its extremity where ts marginal edges 6 are terminating tail piece 7. The marginal edgesof the body plane 5 diverge arcuately bers 23 are adapted for manual control through cables 24 respectively connected thereto and extending forwardly therefrom and through openings in the body plane 5 to a control member 25. v Extendinglongitudinally of the body plane and transversely of the main plane is a centrally depending substantially U-shaped rib or trough-like channel 8 having its free edges 9 flanged outwardly and secured by bolts or rivets 10 to the under face of the main, body and tail portions throughout the length of the structure, as best shownin Figs. 3 andj h This trough-like channel 1s tapered rearwardly and rounded upwardly atitsforward end in the manner of the hull of a boat, and while serving primarily as a stiffening rib may also be utilized as a carrying body or vessel by closing the ends thereof, However, when] the structure is employed as the upper lane of a bi-plane, as shown in the drawings, the ends of the rib 8. are preferablyleft open to provide an airphannel 11 'therethrough. and render the .ablt ds ng porti u the dy Plane 5 fective in adding-sustaining surface to the plane. i 1 Whenfuhie structure is embodied in the lower portion of a bi-plane the body member12corresponding to the trough-like rib .8 is enlarged, and extended forwardly from apointintermdiate the ends to apoint in advance of the main lower plane 13 and 1s closed at .its forward and rear ends in the for n of aboat, the reduced rear portion 14 ofiwhichbeing offsetforms a hydroplaning surface for the machine when traveling upon water. The central longitudinal portion ofthe lower body plane 15, corresponding to the'upper body plane 5, is omitted to give access to the body 12, and the marginal sides of. this plane which extend laterally from the sides of said body and in substantially parallel spaced relation to the bodyjplane 5' are-secured to the marginal edges of the latter by spaced uprights 16 suitablyanchored; at oppositeends in said members respectively.

The main lower plane 13which' is substantially the same in general form as the upper plane: 1, and liesin spaced parallel relation'thereto, is centrally divided in line with the body 12- and is secured at its marginal edges respectively to the body plane 15 and to the marginal edges of the upper main plane 1 by spaced uprights 17 which are suitably anchored at opposite ends respectively in said members.

"While the structural embodiment of the "invention herein illustrated shows the several portions ofthe'planes as formed integral from single members, it will be understood that. the plane surfaces may be mount- -ed uponreinforcing ribs or framework as is common, and that such dlagonal and transverse stays and braces may be added as form in conjunction therewith an and transversely and which may be of any suitable form is preferably mounted for operation and control at the forward end'of the body or boat ofthe lower portion of the machine, which may also be provided at the forward end wlth the usual landing gear 19 and outrlgged floats 20, and at the rear end with tall skid or support 21 and rudder 22, the latter being indicated by dotted lines.

The tail of the upper plane may be equ pped with elevating and deflecting vanes indicated by dotted lines at 23,, which are hlngedly mounted to swing angularly relatlvely and are respectively connected by cables 24 to actuating members 25 arranged for control by the operator as is common.

will appear from the foregoing descriptlon of the construction and arrangement of parts that a material increase in thesustaining area of the planes may be efectively attained within the general dimens ons of air planes as commonly adopted, andthat theemployment in connection with 'the main and body planes of the longitudinally extending trough-like rib. affording an air channel therethrough provides a comparatlvely light yet strong reinforcement throughout the length of the machine without materially detracting from the sustaining surface of the engaged portions of the plane and wlthout offering undue resistance rearwardly therefrom, and a trough-like rib extending longitudinally of said body portionand transversely of said main plane and secured to said main and body members to air channel open at opposite ends thereof.

.2. An airplane structure comprising a main sustaining plane having a relatively narrow. body portion centrally extending rearwardly therefrom, a channeled rib extending longitudinally of said body portion of said main portion and open at opposite ends thereof, a second main sustaining plane having a relatively narrow body 1 portion centrally extending rearwardly therefrom, a trough-like rib extending longitudinally of said body portion and transversely of said main planesand closed said planes in spaced superimposed relation. 3. An airplane structure comprising an at opposite ends, and means for securing upper main sustaining plane having a relatively narrow body portion centrally extending rearwardly therefrom, a concavo-convex eeann rib extending longitudinall of said body portion and transversely of said main plane and secured to said main and body planes, a lower main sustaining plane having a relatively narrow body portion centrally extending rearwardly therefrom, and a trough-like rib extending longitudinally of said body portion and transversely of said main plane, said rib being closed at opposite ends and having an opening through the body portion of said main plane, and supporting means for securing said planes in spaced parallel relation.

4:. An airplane structure comprising an upper main sustaining plane having a rela tively narrow body portion centrally extending rearwardly therefrom, a channeled rib extending longitudinally of said body por- Copies 01. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. G.

tion and transversely of said main plane and secured thereto at its free edges, rudders carried by said body portion, a lower main sustaining plane having a relatively narrow body portion centrally extending rearwardly therefrom, a trough-like body extending longitudinally of said body portion and transversely of said main plane, said rib being closed at opposite ends and having an opening through said main plane and its body portion, supporting means for securing said upper and lower main and body planes in spaced parallel relation, and propelling means carried by said body.

In testimony whereof I sign this spocification.

FRANK J. BAUMAN.

Commissioner of Patents, 

